Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



May 1, 192s.`

J. F. OCONNOR FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented May 1, 1,928.

Unirse s'rATEs rATENr OFFICE.

JOHN F. OCONLN'OR, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'lO XV. H. MINR, INC.,` OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OIF DELAWARE.

FRIcTIon srrociaBsoRBiinG MECHANISM;

Application 1ed July 6,

This invention relates to improvements in friction shock absorbing mechanisms.

One object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism of high capacity, especially adapted for railway draft rigging and particularly for passenger train equipment wherein there is provided, in effect, a free .spring gear ypermitting easy starting of a train and always available for absorbing any normal shocks that may occur in the operation of a train, and combined therewith a friction mechanism as an emergency friction shock absorbing device available to `absorb excessive or abnormal shocks, the action of the free spring and friction mechanism being blended to avoid abrupt change in rate of resistance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined spring and friction shock absorbing mechanism, i including a main spring resistance of eXtra high capacity and a friction system provided with an independ-` ently 'acting spring resistance, wherein the respective springs are so proportioned and designed that themain spring and friction system will operate in sequence, the main spring being available to absorb all normal shocks and the friction system functioning as an emergency device to absorb excessive or abnormal shocks.

A more specific objectof the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism, including aspring cage and a friction shell having limited relative movement, a friction system cooperating with a shell and two independently acting spring resistance elements, one opposing relative movement of the shell and cage and the other opposing relative movement of the friction system and shell, therebyr providing, in effect, a spring gear combined with a friction gear, wherein the respective springs are of such capacity as to provide successive operation of the spring and friction gears and a blending of the resistance offered.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism including a spring cage and connected friction shell, wherein the parts have limited relative movement and the shell and cage have relatively large cooperating abutment surfaces whereby, when the mechanism is 1926. sei-iai No. 120,778`.

fully compressed, a combined column element of great strength is provided.

, Other objects arid advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following. i f y i n the drawings, forming a part of this specification, `Figure l isa longitudinal, hori- Zontal, sectional view of a portion of a railway draft rigging showing my improvements in connection therewith, the sect-ion through the shell and friction elements therewithin corresponding to two section planes at approximately 120 apart.- Figure@ is a front end elevational view of the shock absorbing mechanism proper. lFigure 3 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view corresponding substantiallyto the line 3--3 of-Figure 4.' vFigure 4 is a longitudinal, vertical., sectional view through the front end of the shock absorbing mechanism corresponding substantially to the line 4--4 of Figure 2. Figure `5 is a side kelevational view of a portion of the friction shell and spring cage illustrating the manner of connecting these parts. Figure 6 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, partly broken away, corresponding substantially to the line 6-6 of Figure 4, the main springs being omitted. c i i i In said drawings, 10-10 indicate channel shaped center or draft sills of a car underframe, to the inner faces of which are secured front stopsclugs 11-11 and rea-r stop lugs l2-l2, of usual construction. The inner end portion of the drawbar is -indicated by 1?), the samefhaving `operatively associated therewith a yoke le of well known form. lVithin the yoke is disposed the shock absorbinfT mechanism proper, hereinafter more fully described and a front main follower l5. The yoke and parts contained therein are supported in operative position by a detachable saddle plate 16.r

The improved shock absorbing mechanism proper, as shown, `comprises broadly, a spring cage casting A; a friction shell B; a main spring resistance C; an additional spring resistance D; three friction l shoes E E; a wedge block I; a' spring follower cap G; and a retainer bolt H.

The spring cage A is of generally rectanguiar box-like form having vertieall \l dis posed` longitudinally extending side. walls 17-17, horizontally disposed top and bottom walls 18-18 and a transverse vertical rear end 'all 19 cooperating with stop lugs 12 in the manner of the usual rear tollower. As most clearly illustrated in Figure (i, the rear sections of the top and bottom walls 1S are termed so as to contorni to the outline ot the twin arranged double coiled main springs C. The top and bottom walls are preferably reinforced b v longitmlinally extending ribs as illustrated in Figure G. At. the forward end of the cage A. the top and bottom walls are centrally eut away as iudicated at 119-119 to acconnnodate the rear end portion oi the friet-ion shell B. The extreme outer ends ot the top and bottom walls at opposite sides ot the eut away por tiens 119 are thickened as most clearly shown in Figures 2 and 5, the thickened portions being eut away on the inner sides as indicated at Q0 in Figure 5 to provide guideways adapted to receive locking blocks hereinafter more fully described. The side walls 17-17 ot the spring cage are cut away as indicated at 21 thereby providing vertically disposed inner abutment taces 22 at the opposite .sides of the casing cooperating with the inner end oi the trietiou shell li.

The friction lshell B is ot generally cylindrical form. as most clearly shown in Fig' ures 1 Q and 3 and is provided with top and bottom enlargements Q3-Q3 working within the cutaway portions 119 of the top and bottom walls ot' the cage A. At the rear end. the friction shell B provided with a pair ot lateral extensions Q4 serving as a follower element'. The shell B has a transverse rear end wall 25 formed integral with the enlargements 24: and serving as an abutment for the inner end ot the spring resistance D. The friction shell is also provided with three interior. longitudinally extending. true cylindrical `Friction surfaces QG-Qti adapted te cooperate with the friction shoes l. The enlargements Q41 are ot such a height that they are accommodated tor sliding movement in the cut away sections Q1 ot the side walls ot the spring eage A. as most. clearly shown in Figure 5. At the 'forward side the enlargements Q4 are provided with lugs 27-27 adjaeent the extreme outer edges thereof. the lugs being provided with beveled fares Q8 on the inner sides thereof. The friction shell B is adapted to be assembled with the. spring b v inserting the rear end oit the former longitudinally of the cage between the top and bottom walls. the en largements being entered within the eut away sections 119 ot the top and bottom walls andA the enlargements Q4 being entered within the eut away sections Q1 of the side walls.

In order to retain the friction shell in assembled relation with the. spring cage. east ing. two locking bloelts 29 are provided. The loelting blot-lis are adapted to lit. within the eut awa): portions olI the side walls ot the spring cage and are eaeh provided with top and bottom ribstltl-Witl adapted to seat within the corresponding slots 2t) ot the top and bottom walls. ,ttt the inner end. cach bloei-.1 is eut away as .shown in ltigure ."i to provide transversely extending vertical sets ot' shoulders ilmll and 32m-i2 adapted to cooperate with similar .shoulders on the trout surl'aees ot' the enl:ii-gement;` 2l at the rear end ol' the Ytrietiou shell. llaeh locking blot-k12!) is also provided with a notrh fit) adiaeent the outer edge thereot` adapted to eooperate with the rorresi)ending lug 2T on the l'riction shell. ltlach notch ll is provided with a beveled or int-lined l'aee adapted to eooptn'ate with the vlaee i254. ot' the eorresponding lutl 2i'. Vfhen the parts have heen assembled :nd the lspring cage is moved inwardly so that the shoulders on the enlargementsl 2l eooperating with the shoulder,`V il on the locking hloelqs are in alinemeut with the inner rnd walls ot' the reeesses :'20 on the top and bottom walls ot the spring cage. the two locking blot-hs itl are inserted laterally within the openings l ol' the .side walls of the spring rage in 4sueh a manner that the, rib:` fill will be seated within the slots 2n of the top and bottom walls ol' the cage. lt will be evident when the friction shell is in its outerl'nost position, movement thereof will be limited by the enlarg'ements` il coming into abutment with the locking blocks '25). lllhen thtI parts are in this position. the lugs on the ii'rietion shell will engage within the notches ot the. blocks and hold the same against lateral outward movement. It; is further pointed out that when the mecha uisin is iu assembled position between the dratt sills lll. ar'eidentfal displacement ot the loeling blocks if) wiil he positively prevented by the dra t't sills. lt these hloelns` should become areidentally slightly disi'ilaced. prop er centering?Y ol the .same is assured by the lwveled cooperating Ylaces on the locking blocks and enlargements of the friction shell.

'l`he Vtrietion shoes l. are three in number and are preferably ot lile construction. each having an outer elongated eylindrieal triction sui-tace IllY adapted to eooperate with om ot the l'rirt'ion surtaees 2G of the shell li. (ln the inner side, each shoe ll is provided with a lateral enlargermnt il?) having a iront, wedge Ytace 530 adapted to cooperate with the wedge member F. The rear end ol the en largement. 35 ot each shoe provides a trans verse abutment 'tace adapted to eooperatt with the spring follower cap G. The spring follower cap (l is of generally eup-shaptl having ar relatively heavy annular flange 3'1 at the inner end thereof hearing on the outer lUll ryiug out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and l contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope ot the claims appended hereto.

l claim:

l. ln a friction shock absorbing mechanism adapted for railway d rait riggings subject to the tractive torce approximating the maximum traetive eli'ort of a standard passenger locomotive, the combination with a friction shell and 'Friction elements cooperable therewith: ol a springl cage; a spring resistance within the. shell; and a spring resistance within said cage, the resistance of said last named spring while opposing relative movement ot the shell and cage being in excess ot the maximum sustained tractive eilort oi a standard locomotive, said shell and cage having a predetermined amount of lost motion therebetween, said shell, elements and first'. named spring resistance being movable bodily as a unit relative to the cage to eii'ect compression ot the second named spring resistance to the extent of said lost motion.

2. ln a friction shock absorbing mechanism adapted for railway draft riggings of standard passenger equipment subject to a sustained tractive torce approximating' the sustained maximum tractive eort ot the locomotive ot said standard equipment., the combination with a friction shell havingT a rear end Wall and friction elements cooperable with the shell; aspring cage, said shell and cage having a predetermined amount ot lost motion therebetween; a spring resistance within the shell co-aeting;r with the friction elements; and a main spring resistance within the cage and cooperating with the end wall of the shell, said last named spring having, while opposing movement of the shell and cage a resisting capacity in excess ot the sustained maximum tractive eil'ort of said standard locomotive and. being f 'ompressible independentlT of said lirst named springl to the extent of the lost motion between the shell and the cage.

fl. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism adapted for railwav draft riggings. subject to a tractive torce approximatini;r the maximum tractive eilort of a standard passenger locomotive and having when subjected to a force equal to said tract-ive force, a normal compression stroke less than the tull compression stroke of the mechanism, the combination with a friction shell having a fixed abutment. wall: ot a spring cage, said suell and cage havingr a limited amount of relative movement; a plurality of friction elements within the shell cooperable therewith: a springt resistance within the shell ruimt-rating with the friction elements, said sprint resistance being interposed between said shoes and the abutment' wall: and a main spring resistance interposed between the abutment wall and the rear end oi the cage the capacity ot said main .spring Awhile olmos-in;l movement ot said shell and cage bt-nn such as io absorb all normal shocks to which the gear is subjected.y

J.. in a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a spring cage and a Afriction shell having limited relative movement; et a Friction s vsten'i within the shell; springY means opposing' relative movement; of the shell and cage; and means for detachabl)7 cfumectin;l the shell to the cage comprising locltingr means detachabljt7 secured to the ca ee. said locking means and shell havingr abutment elements thereon Alor lin'iiting the outward umvement ot the shell With refierence to the cage, said locking means heine7 held in locking position'by the expansive act ion oi the spring means.

ln a railiva'v dratt rigging', the combination with draft sills; oi a shock absorbincY mechanism interposed between the draft sills including a spring; cage and a. friction shell. said cage and shell having limited relative movement; a friction system within the shell: means for vieh'lingly resisting relative movement ot said system and shell; means tor yieldingly opposing relative movement ot the shell and cage: and means lor dctachablyv connectingT the shell to the cage and permitting said limited relative movement thereoii, said means including lockingy bloei-:s cooperating with the shell and cage, outward movement. oit said blocks being prevented by engagement with the draft sills, said blocks havingr means thereon cooperating; with the Afriction shell for preventing accidental displacement of the blocks when the mechanism is in full release.

ln witness that l claim the 'toregoingir I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th da); of June 1926.

JOHN F. OCONNOR. 

